Big Ideas Courses

Course Archive

Class photo with Professors Kent Lightfoot and Scott Stephens in the middle
Class photo of the Big Ideas Course "Fire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of California," co-taught by Kent Lightfoot (Anthropology) and Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), on April 24, 2024. (Photo credit: Mathew Burciaga, Communications specialist, College of Natural Resources)
YearTermCourse TitleCourse NumberInstructorsBreadth
2025SpringClimate Change and the Future of CaliforniaEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management C46 / Letters and Science C46Whendee Silver (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), David Sedlak (Civil and Environmental Engineering)Biological Science
2025SpringFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management C22AC / Native American Studies C22ACPeter Nelson (Ethnic Studies), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2025SpringFrom Imagination to InnovationBusiness Administration 190T / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Dave Rochlin (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2025SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Ellen Evers (Haas)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2024SpringFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaAnthropology C12AC / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C22ACKent Lightfoot (Anthropology), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2024SpringFrom Imagination to InnovationBusiness Administration 190T / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Dave Rochlin (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2024SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: AI, Robotics and ArtLetters and Science 25Ken Goldberg (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2023SpringClimate Change and the Future of CaliforniaEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management C46 / Letters and Science C46Whendee Silver (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), David Sedlak (Civil and Environmental Engineering)Biological Science
2023SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Amy Lerman (Political Science)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Creativity and PracticeLetters and Science 25Shannon Jackson (Rhetoric and Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Greg Niemeyer (Art Practice)Arts and Literature
2022FallFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaAnthropology C12AC / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C22ACKent Lightfoot (Anthropology), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022FallThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Creativity and PracticeLetters and Science 25Greg Niemeyer (Art Practice), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2022FallMigration and Membership: Empirical and Normative PerspectivesLegal Studies C134 / Sociology C146MIrene Bloemraad (Sociology), Sarah Song (Legal Studies)Philosophy and Values; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022SpringArt and EcologyArt Practice C100 / Geography C100 / History of Art C106Asma Kazmi (Art Practice), Sugata Ray (History of Art), Sharad Chari (Geography)Arts and Literature
2022SpringCollaborative InnovationBusiness Administration 190C / Public Policy 190 / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Sara Beckman (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Anibel Ferus-Comelo (Public Policy)Arts and Literature
2022SpringMagic, Religion and ScienceHistory C188C / Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures C188Rita Lucarelli (Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures), Maria Mavroudi (History)Historical Studies, Philosophy and Values
2022SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), Alison Gopnik (Psychology), Johann Frick (Philosophy)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2021FallArt and ActivismLetters and Science C138 / Music C138T. Carlis Roberts (Music), Cecilia Lucas (Global Poverty and Practice)Arts and Literature
2021FallConversion and NegotiationHistory of Art C110 / Spanish and Portuguese C110Todd P. Olson (History of Art)Arts and Literature; Historical Studies
2021FallFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaAnthropology C12AC / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C22ACKent Lightfoot (Anthropology), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2021FallThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Creativity and PracticeLetters and Science 25Greg Niemeyer (Art Practice)Arts and Literature
2021SpringClimate Change and the Future of CaliforniaEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management C46 / Letters and Science C46Whendee Silver (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), David Sedlak (Civil and Environmental Engineering)Biological Science
2021SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Alison Gopnik (Psychology)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2021SpringThinking Through Art and Design@BerkeleyLetters and Science 25Shannon Jackson (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2020FallFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaAnthropology C12AC / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C22ACKent Lightfoot (Anthropology), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2020FallMigration and Membership: Empirical and Normative PerspectivesLegal Studies C134 / Sociology C146MIrene Bloemraad (Sociology), Sarah Song (Legal Studies)Philosophy and Values; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2020FallThe 2020 ElectionAfrican American Studies C20AC / Public Policy C20ACMichael Cohen (African American Studies), Saru Jayaraman (Goldman School of Public Pollicy)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2020FallThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Visual Cultures: Aesthetics of the DigitalLetters and Science 25Greg Niemeyer (Art Practice)Arts and Literature
2020SpringArt and ActivismLetters and Science C138 / Music C138T. Carlis Roberts (Music), Cecilia Lucas (Global Poverty and Practice)Arts and Literature
2020SpringCollaborative InnovationArt 100 / Business Administration 190C / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Sara Beckman (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Greg Niemeyer (Art Practice)Arts and Literature
2020SpringPrisonAfrican American Studies 181AC / Ethnic Studies 181AC / Legal Studies 185AC / Social Welfare 185ACJonathan Simon (Law), Keith Feldman (Ethnic Studies), Tina Sacks (Social Welfare), Nikki Jones (African American Studies)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2020SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Alison Gopnik (Psychology)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2020SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Public Art and BelongingLetters and Science 25Leigh Raiford (African American Studies), Lauren Kroiz (History of Art)Arts and Literature
2019FallConversion and NegotiationHistory of Art C110 / Spanish and Portuguese C110Todd P. Olson (History of Art), Ivonne del Valle (Spanish and Portuguese)Arts and Literature; Historical Studies
2019FallEnergy and CivilizationBusiness Administration 193B / Letters and Science 126Christine Rosen (Haas School of Business), Jamie Rector (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Ahmed Badruzzaman (L&S)Social and Behavioral Sciences
2019FallFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaAnthropology C12AC / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C22ACKent Lightfoot (Anthropology), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2019FallMigration in the Contemporary World: California and BeyondEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management C135A / Ethnic Studies C135ACatherine Choy (Ethnic Studies), Seth Holmes (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Social and Behavioral Sciences
2019FallThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Responsible Design from Bits to BuildingsLetters and Science 25Bjorn Hartmann (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), Robert Kett (Jacobs Design Institute), Kyle Steinfeld (Architecture)Arts and Literature
2019SpringArt and ActivismLetters and Science C138 / Music C138T. Carlis Roberts (Music), Cecilia Lucas (Global Poverty and Practice)Arts and Literature
2019SpringCollaborative InnovationArt 100 / Business Administration 190T / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100 / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Sara Beckman (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Takming Chuang (Art Practice), Angela Marino (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2019SpringOrigins in Science and ReligionLetters and Science 121Kevin Padian (Integrative Biology), Ron Hendel (Near Eastern Studies)Philosophy and Values
2019SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Creativity, Migration, TransformationLetters and Science 25Peter Glazer (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Stan Lai (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies)Arts and Literature
2018FallEnergy and CivilizationBusiness Administration 193B / Letters and Science 126Christine Rosen (Haas School of Business), Jamie Rector (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Ahmed Badruzzaman (L&S)Social and Behavioral Sciences
2018FallFire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of CaliforniaAnthropology C12AC / Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C22ACKent Lightfoot (Anthropology), Scott Stephens (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2018FallOrigins: From the Big Bang to the Emergence of HumansAstronomy C13 / Integrative Biology C13Eliot Quataert (Astronomy), Charles Marshall (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science
2018FallThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Creativity, Migration, TransformationLetters and Science 25Alex Saragoza (Ethnic Studies)Arts and Literature
2018SpringArt and ActivismLetters and Science C138 / Music C138T. Carlis Roberts (Music), Cecilia Lucas (Global Poverty and Practice)Arts and Literature
2018SpringClimate Change and the Future of CaliforniaEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management C46 / Letters and Science C46David Acklery (Integrative Biology), Whendee Silver (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), David Sedlak (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Steve Weissman (Law)Biological Science
2018SpringCollaborative InnovationArt 100 / Business Administration 190T / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Sara Beckman (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Sean San Jose (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Takming Chuang (Art Practice)Arts and Literature
2018SpringCrowds and CloudsLetters and Science 128Cori Hayden (Anthropology), Julia Bryan-Wilson (History of Art), Anne Walsh (Art Practice)Arts and Literature; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2018SpringMagic, Religion and ScienceHistory C188C / Near Eastern Studies C188Rita Lucarelli (Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures), Maria Mavroudi (History)Historical Studies, Philosophy and Values
2018SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Tania Lombrozo (Psychology)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2018SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: The Bay Area Experimental Media Arts UndergroundLetters and Science 25Jeffrey Skoller (Film and Media Studies)Arts and Literature
2017FallBeauty and the Beholder: Approaching Art at the Berkeley Art MuseumLetters and Science 76Karen Feldman (German)Arts and Literature; Philosophy and Values
2017FallEnergy and CivilizationBusiness Administration 193B / Letters and Science 126Christine Rosen (Haas School of Business), Jamie Rector (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Ahmed Badruzzaman (L&S)Social and Behavioral Sciences
2017FallThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: Curation Across DisciplinesLetters and Science 25Shannon Jackson (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Natasha Boas (International Independent Curator), Eric Siegel (Director of the Botanical Garden)Arts and Literature
2017FallTimeLetters and Science 125Raphael Bousso (Physics), Mark Richards (Earth and Planetary Science)Physical Science
2017SpringCollaborative InnovationArt 100 / Business Administration 190T / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100 / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Sara Beckman (Haas School of Business), Lisa Wymore (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Sean San Jose (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Tracy Jo Scott (Art Practice)Arts and Literature
2017SpringConsciousnessLetters and Science 124David Presti (Molecular and Cell Biology), Robert Sharf (East Asian Languages and Cultures)Philosophy and Values
2017SpringPrisonEthnic Studies C181 / Legal Studies C185 / Social Welfare C185Jonathan Simon (Law), Keith Feldman (Ethnic Studies), Tina Sacks (Social Welfare)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2017SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Tania Lombrozo (Psychology)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2017SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: California CounterculturesLetters and Science 25Natasha Boas (International Independent Curator), Michael Cohen (African American Studies)Arts and Literature
2016FallArt and ActivismLetters and Science C138 / Music C138T. Carlis Roberts (Music), Cecilia Lucas (Global Poverty and Practice)Arts and Literature
2016FallEnergy and CivilizationBusiness Administration 193B / Letters and Science 126Christine Rosen (Haas School of Business), Jamie Rector (Civil and Environmental Engineering)Social and Behavioral Sciences
2016FallOceansEarth and Planetary Science C82 / Geography C82 / Integrative Biology C82Jim Bishop (Earth and Planetary Science), Ivo Duijnstee (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science
2016FallOrigins: From the Big Bang to the Emergence of HumansAstronomy C13 / Integrative Biology C13Eliot Quataert (Astronomy), Charles Marshall (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science
2016SpringClimate Change and the Future of CaliforniaEnvironmental Science, Policy, and Management 46 / Letters and Science 46David Acklery (Integrative Biology), Whendee Silver (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management), David Sedlak (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Steve Weissman (Law)Biological Science
2016SpringCollaborative InnovationArt 100 / Business Administration 190T / Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies 100Sara Beckman (Haas School of Business), Catherine Cole (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Sean San Jose (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Stephanie Syjuco (Art Practice), MaryMoore Patterson, Amanda EicherArts and Literature
2016SpringMagic, Religion and ScienceHistory C188C / Near Eastern Studies C188Rita Lucarelli (Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures), Maria Mavroudi (History)Historical Studies; Philosophy and Values
2016SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Tania Lombrozo (Psychology)Philosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2016SpringThinking Through Art and Design@Berkeley: The Architecture of LifeLetters and Science 25Shannon Jackson (Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies), Nicholas de Monchaux (Architecture)Arts and Literature
2016SpringTimeLetters and Science 125Raphael Bousso (Physics), Mark Richards (Earth and Planetary Science)Physical Science
2015FallHumanitiesLetters and Science 23Michael Nylan (History), Daniel Boyarin (Rhetoric)Historical Studies; Philosophy and Values
2015SpringArt and ActivismLetters and Science C138 / Music C138T. Carlis Roberts (Music), Cecilia Lucas (Global Poverty and Practice)Arts and Literature
2015SpringOrigins in Science and ReligionLetters and Science 121Kevin Padian (Integrative Biology), Ron Hendel (Near Eastern Studies)Philosophy and Values
2015SpringTimeLetters and Science 125Raphael Bousso (Physics), Walter Alvarez, Mark Richards (Earth and Planetary Science)Physical Science
2014FallArt and ScienceHistory C188A / History of Art C156BBeate Fricke, Massimo Mazzotti (History)Arts and Literature; Historical Studies
2014FallHuman FertilityIntegrative Biology C130 / Sociology C118Jenna Johnson-Hanks (Sociology/Demography), Leslea Hlusko (Integrative Biology)Biological Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2014FallOceansEarth and Planetary Science C82 / Geography C82 / Integrative Biology C82Jim Bishop (Earth and Planetary Science), Ivo Duijnstee (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science
2014FallOrigins: From the Big Bang to the Emergence of HumansAstronomy C13 / Integrative Biology C13Eliot Quataert (Astronomy), Charles Marshall (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science
2014SpringBeauty and the Beholder: Approaching Art at the Berkeley Art MuseumLetters and Science 76Karen Feldman (German)Arts and Literature; Philosophy and Values
2014SpringConsciousness: Buddhist and Neuroscientific ApproachesLetters and Science 124David Presti (Molecular and Cell Biology), Robert Sharf (East Asian Languages and Cultures)Philosophy and Values
2014SpringPrisonArchitecture 180AC / Ethnic Studies 181AC / Legal Studies 185ACVictoria Robinson (Ethnic Studies), Jill Stoner (Architecture), Jonathan Simon (Law), Patricia Hilden (Ethnic Studies)Historical Studies; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2014SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Rob MacCounPhilosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2013FallArt and ScienceHistory C188A / History of Art C156BBeate Fricke, Massimo Mazzotti (History)Arts and Literature; Historical Studies
2013FallMusic and MeaningMusic 128P / Philosophy C112Hannah Ginsborg (Philosophy), Mary Ann Smart (Music)Arts and Literature; Philosophy and Values
2013FallOrigins: From the Big Bang to the Emergence of HumansAstronomy C13 / Integrative Biology C13Eliot Quataert (Astronomy), Charles Marshall (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science
2013SpringMusic and MeaningMusic 128P / Philosophy C112Hannah Ginsborg (Philosophy), Mary Ann Smart (Music)Arts and Literature; Philosophy and Values
2013SpringOrigins in Science and ReligionLetters and Science 121Kevin Padian (Integrative Biology), Ron Hendel (Near Eastern Studies)Philosophy and Values
2013SpringSense and Sensibility and ScienceLetters and Science 22Saul Perlmutter (Physics), John Campbell (Philosophy), Rob MacCounPhilosophy and Values; Physical Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2013SpringSocietal Risks and LawComputer Science C79 / Political Science C79 / Statistics C79Philip Stark (Statistics), David Wagner (Computer Science), Jasjeet Sekhon (Political Science), Nick Jewell (Public Health), Cathryn Carson (History), Stephen Mahin ((Structural Engineering)Social and Behavioral Sciences
2013SpringTimeLetters and Science 122Raphael Bousso (Physics), Hubert Dreyfus, Sean KellyPhysical Science; Philosophy and Values; Social and Behavioral Sciences
2012FallOceansEarth and Planetary Science C82 / Geography C82 / Integrative Biology C82Jim Bishop (Earth and Planetary Science), Ivo Duijnstee (Integrative Biology)Physical Science; Biological Science